Work holding and safety device for paper cutting machines



y 1937. D. M. WINANS 2,079,390

WORK HOLDING AND SAFETY DEVICE FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 1, 1934 I N VE NTOR. Dfl/Y/EL M. M/mws.

BY Wd I I A ORNEY..

Patented May 4, 1937 u mreo STATES PATENT GFFICE WORK HOLDING AND SAFETY DEVICE FOR PAPER CUTTING MACHINES 8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a work holding and safety device for paper cutting machines.

The use of paper cutting and trimming machines has long presented two labor problems closely allied, namely, adequate and suitable means for holding the stack of paper, books, or other material to be cut or trimmed in the properly aligned and adjusted position, without danger of shifting up to the time of and during the cutting or trimming operation, and secondly, adequate and certain safety means to prevent injury to the operator by the actuation of the cutting mechanism. 7

As is well known, there is provided on practically all types of paper cutting and trimming machines, a fiat table upon which the stack of paper or books is placed, a rigid plate or other vertically disposed stop against which the back edge of the stack is placed for proper alignment and evenness, a plunger or presser member adapted to engage the stack of paper on top to hold it against movement during the cutting operation, and cutting knives for either or both the front edge of the stack and the side edges thereof. There have also been provided many forms and types of guards and safety devices for preventing the operator from placing his hands or arms in the path of the cutting knives during the cutting operation.

Experience has shown that the ordinary plunger or presser pad type of holding means for the stack of paper or books is inefiicient in that when the plunger moves downwardly into engagement with the top of the stack and presses the stack downwardly tight against the table or base, there generally occurs a slippage of the stack out of proper adjustment and alignment with respect to the back or guide plate against which the stack has been aligned. This is probably due to the air between the sheets of paper which, when expelled by the pressure of the plunger, causes an adjustment or slippage away from the back plate or guide. This has been found particularly true in the case of stacks of books, the front and end edges of which are to be trimmed and the back edges of which, adjacent the back stop or guide, are bound. In this case the binding contributes to the forward slipping of the stack or the upper portions of it as the pressure is applied.

With this condition existing the operators of such machines have been compelled to manually hold the stack of paper or books against the back guide plate until the plunger has engaged and at least partially compressed the stack. The danger of this performance will be apparent when it is understood that on most machines of this type the downward cutting stroke of the knives follows very closely the downward movement of the plunger, the two being generally automatic in their operation once the release has been actuated. I1. any one of the many types of safety devices which have been devised and provided on machines of this type is used, and the operator positively prevented from holding the stack with his hands until the plunger is down and the knives started, then the slippage above referred to occurs. If such safety devices are not used, as is frequently the casein order that the operator may hold the stack in place until compressed, the operator is in great danger.

In other words, if the safety of the operator is sacrificed in order to enable him to hold the stack in position until practically the instant of cutting, the machine is a dangerous one to operate. If this safety is not sacrificed then the result is generally a slippage cr dislocation of the stack or a part of it with resultant uneven trimming or cutting.

By my invention I have provided a holding means for the stack of paper or books which makes impossible the dislocation or slippage thereof at any time during the operation of the machine, thus eliminating all necessity for the operator placing or keeping his hands against the stack once it has been properly positioned and aligned. Secondly, I have provided a means whereby even though there is no necessity for the operator placing his hands near the stack and cutting knives, the operation of the cutting device makes it impossible for him to do so carelessly or inadvertently. I have provided, therefore, a combination holding deviceand safety de vice for cutting and trimming machines.

One of the principal features and objects of my invention lies in the provision of a suction means for holding the stack of paper or books in position during the pressing and cutting action whereby no dislocation or slippage of the stack is possible during the pressing or cutting operations.

A further object of my invention lies in the provision of a back plate or guide against which the stack is aligned, provided with suction holding means adjustable to the desired heighth of the stack to be out.

Another object lies in the provision of an arrangement of controlling devices for the holding means and the cutting means whereby both hands of the operator must be entirely away from the path of the cutting knives before and during the cutting action thereof.

Still another object lies in the provision of a controlling means for the suction holding device which prior to the operation thereof prevents the operation of the cutting knives and which upon actuation renders the knife control effective for operation.

While I have shown and will describe my invention in connection with a stack of articles,

such as sheets of paper, cardboard, books, and the like, it will be clear that it is equally adaptable for single articles as well as stacked articles. Consequently hereafter in the specification and claims, the word stack is intended as a convenient descriptive term and includes any form of work upon which the machine operates.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference now being had to the figures of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this applicationand wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front View of a cutting machine embodying my invention, many parts of the machine forming no part of this invention being omitted for clearness of illustration.

Figure 2 is a detail side View of the holding device for the stack of paper or books to be cut.

Figure 3 is a front view of the holding device.

Figure 4 is a detail side View of a portion of the machine illustrating the operation of the holding device and its cooperation with the knife control.

It should be stated at the outset that the machine illustrated herein is intended as illustra tive only and forms no part of this invention except in the cooperation of certain parts with the holding and safety means which I have provided. My invention is readily applicable to cutting machines of many and varied types and designs and consequently only an outline and more or less diagrammatic illustration has been provided of a cutting machine.

The reference character i indicates supporting standards of a paper cutting and trimming machine, which standards may also serve as guides for a. crosspiece 2 to which is secured the front cutting blade or knife 3. A source of power such as the electric motor 4, supported as at 5, is provided and which may drive a shaft 6 by means of a belt 1 and pulley 8. The shaft 6 extends at one end into a clutch casing 9. Also extending into the casing 9 is one end of a shaft it suitably journaled in the machine frame. This shaft It may be provided with wheels H to which are pivotally attached as at l2 the lower ends of links I3 connected at their upper ends to the crosspiece 2. A controlling lever M is suitably pivotally mounted as at and is provided with an extension arm [6 engaging in a conventional manner with the clutch member within the easing 9 whereby when the lever is rocked to the left in Figure 1, the clutch member (not shown) will cause one rotation of the shaft I0, resulting in the downward movement of the cutting knives and. the upward return thereof. A coil spring I! maybe provided to normally move the lever M to clutch disengaging position.

It should be stated here also that there are additional side knives l8 which may be provided for simultaneous cutting operation with the front knife 3 whereby the front and sides of a stack of paper or books may be cut or trimmed simultaneously. The operating means for the knife I8 has not been shown as it forms no part of this invention. Suffice it to say that suitable means are provided whereby the knives 3 and I8 are either operated simultaneously or one following the other according to the particular design of machine, and upon the actuation of the clutch as just described.

,The'details 0f the clutch and clutch connections within the casing 9 have not been shown as they form no part of this invention.

Suitably supported by the frame of the machine is a table or base l9 upon which the stack 2!! of books or paper may be placed in position for cutting. Suitably rigidly secured to the base I9 is a vertically disposed backstop or guide member 2| against which the stack of paper or books is adapted to be placed and aligned. This guide member 2i may be in the form of a block of metal or other suitable material, the front face of which is machined to a perfectly smooth 'reg= ular surface except for a recess 22 centrally dis posed and extending vertically of the guide. A channel or port 23 is provided through one side of the guide block 2| communicating withthe recess 22. The recess 22 extends substantially the vertical length of the guide block and the block is offset on its rear side as at 24 to align with the recess 22 to provide a relatively deep recess. A slide25 is suitably mounted in the face of the block 2| for adjustment to regulate the length of the recess opening to the front of the guide block. The mounting of the slide 25 is such that the front surface of the slide lies entirely flush with the front side surfaces of the guide.

Mounted upon the continuously rotating shaft 6 is a pulley 26 adapted to drive by a belt 21, a

suction pump 28 having suitable pipe communication 29 with the port 23 in the guide block. Located in the suction line 29 at any desired or suitable point is a control valve 30 provided with an actuating lever 3i whereby suction force can be selectively admitted to the recess 22 in the guide block. Normally and when the valve is not actuated, in a manner to be described, to communicate the suction force to the recess 22, the valve is so arranged as to provide communication between the pump and the atmosphere.

Suitably journaled adjacent the front of "the machine is a shaft 32, one end of which is pro.- vided with an operating lever 33 normally urged in one direction by a coil spring 34 as shown in Figure 4. provided with an arm 35 normally extending into and lying within the path of the control lever l4 whereby such control lever cannot be actuated to release the knives as before explained until the arm 35 has been moved out of its path. Also mounted upon the end of the shaft 32 is an ear 36 to which is pivotally connected one end of a link 37, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the valve controlling lever 3|. It'wiIl be clear from the foregoing that when the operating lever 33 is moved forwardly, 'theshaft 3-2 will be rocked, this resulting in simultaneously operating the valve 39 to admit suction force to the guide block recess 22 and moving thearm 35 out'of the path of the controlling lever 14.

Suitably mounted in the machine'in position to move downwardly into engagement with the top of the stack of paper or'books '20 is a plunger 33 adapted to tightly press the stack against the base l9 and hold it against dislocation during the cutting or trimming by the knives 3 and 18. It will be understood that the pmngeraa has suitable operating means generally under the con trol of the release lever M which also controls the operation of the cutting knives. The details of this have not been shown as they form-'no'part of this invention. 'Suifice it to say that moperation when thelever I l-is actuated the plunger 38 ismoved-downwardlyinto engagement with the stack at and immediately thereafterthe cut- The opposite end of the shaft 32 is ting knives move downwardly for the cutting operation. After the cutting operation the knives and the plunger return to their normal upper position ready for the next operation.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

The stack 20 of paper or books is placed on the base 19 and moved into engagement with the front face of the guide 2| where they are properly aligned and adjusted to proper position for the cutting or trimming by the knives. The operator then with the left hand pulls forwardly on the control lever 33 rocking the shaft 32 whereupon the suction force is admitted through the valve 30 to the guide block recess 22. This suction force in addition to tightly pulling the stack 20 against the face of the guide 2| also removes the air from between the sheets or books. The operator may now, while still holding the lever 33 forwardly with the left hand, rock the control lever I4 with his right hand, the arm 35 on the shaft 32 being out of the way thereof. This rocking of the controlling lever l4 results, through any suitable mechanism which may be provided on the maclnne, in causing the plunger 38 to move downwardly into engagement with the stack and press it tightly against the base I9. Any slippage or movement of the stack out of adjustment is prevented during this pressing action of the plunger 38 by the suction force applied to the back of the stack. As before explained the knives 3 and I8 then move downwardly cutting and trimming the stack and then return upwardly, the plunger also then moving upwardly out of engagement with the stack. It will be noted that during this operation the operator must have one hand on the lever 33 and the other on the lever l4 in order to bring about the operation of the cutting device. This eliminates any possibility of his placing his hands in the path of the cutting knives. After the cutting operation it will be obvious that releasing of the levers 33 and M will cause them to return to their normal positions under the influence of their springs and with the arm 35 again in the path of the lever M. This results in cutting off the suction force from the recess 22, releasing the stack. Thus the operating lever 14 for the presser pad and knives cannot be actuated unless the lever 33 is being pulled. It is therefore impossible for the operator to operate the knives with either of his hands in the path of the knives.

It will be understood, of course, that the guide block 21 may be of any desired size as to width and heighth to accommodate the necessary sized stacks.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a holding means for stacks of paper, books, or other materials to be held in a fixed position, which eliminates the necessity of the operator using his hands for that purpose at any time and which also eliminates the possibility of slippage or movement of the parts during the operation. In addition I have provided a safety means for the operator whereby both of his hands must be simultaneously used at the spaced control points and whereby operation of the cutting knives is impossible without such first positioning of the operators hands.

Of course, changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact form herein shown and described other than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a support for holding a stack of articles to be cut, a guide member against which said stack may be placed for alignment, suction means provided through said guide member for holding said stack in adjusted position against said guide, and means on said guide for adjusting the suction means in accordance with the heighth of the stack.

2. In combination with a support for holding a stack of articles to be cut, cutting means for said stack, controlling means for said cutting means, suction means cooperating with the articles ofsaid stack for holding the stack in adjusted position, controlling means for said suction holding means, and means operable by actuation of said last named controlling means for rendering said first named controlling means operative.

3. In combination with a support for holding a stack of articles to be cut, cutting means for said stack, controlling means for said cutting means, suction means cooperating with the articles of said stack for holding the stack in adjusted position, controlling means for said suction holding means, and means operable only by actuation of said last named controlling means for rendering said first named controlling means operative.

4. In combination with a support for holding a stack of articles to be cut, cutting means for said stack, controlling means for said cutting means, suction means cooperating with the articlesof said stack for holding the stack in adjusted position, controlling means for said suction holding means, and means operable by the actuation of said last named controlling means for simultaneously rendering said suction holding means and said first named controlling means operative.

5. In combination with a support for holding a stack of articles to be out, cutting means for said stack, controlling means for said cuttin means, suction means cooperating with the articles of said stack for holding the stack in adjusted position, controlling means for said suction holding means, and means operable by the actuation of said last named controlling means for simultaneously rendering said suction holding means and said first named controlling means operative, said suction controlling means and said cutting controlling means being spaced from said cutting means and from each other.

6. A holder for a stack of articles comprising a support and means for applying a suction force to the side edges of a stack of articles on said support for removing the air from between said articles and holding said stack in adjusted position.

7. A holder for a stack of articles comprising a support, a vertical guide thereon against which a side of a stack of articles is adapted to be aligned, and means for applying a suction force through said guide for removing the air from between said articles and holding said stack in adjusted position.

8. A holder for a stack of articles comprising a support, a vertical guide thereon against which a side of a stack of articles is adapted to be aligned, and means for applying a suction force through said guide for removing the air from between said articles and holding said stack in adjusted position, said suction means being adjustable to the heighth of the stack.

DANIEL M. WINANS. 

